ORIGINAL: Jollyarcher

I arrowed him Friday evening after work, one day before the close of the 2004 archery season. He was on the opposite ridge that I'd spent most of my time hunting during the first part of the season. I was in this area on a hunch Wednesday of the last week and saw him at dusk. I grunted him to about 55 yards, (from about 90) but he refused to come any closer.

I hadn't hunted there before and the season was almost spent, so I went back mid-day Thursday for a high speed look around, hoping I wouldn't bump him. I found some well used scrapes not far into the pines, figured out the best way to get in with low impact and I left.

I had to work dayshift Friday and made it to the woodline at about 4pm. The tree I chose to climb was not as good as I hoped, and I dismissed it without taking the climber off my back. I moved about 35 yards to what looked like a good tree and maxed out my bow rope at 30 feet. I prefer climbing 20, but I had next to no cover and little time to waste on looking for another tree.

I was on stand for about 45 minutes and was surprised to see this fellow working the edge of the pines - from the same direction I had come in! He was walking the direct opposite route from that I had seen him use on Wednesday. He hit the largest scrape in a row of three, freshening it just about 20 yards from the base of my 2nd choice tree.

A thick wall of pine tree branches blocked any chance of an ethical shot. I looked over at my 1st choice tree and envisioned being there. I considered a soft contact grunt, but weighed it as too risky at that range. He left the scrape and I clicked the range finder in the first opening he would encounter. The display flashed back 24 yards. I came to full draw and waited for him to enter the lane...

The opening was there and he turned into it as he came into clear view. He was coming head long right at the base of my tree! Good grief... full draw, no shot, minimal cover, and he's closing distance almost straight on. I'm praying he doesn't smell me since he's pretty much walking in my footsteps now... he slows up and turns slightly quartering on to go around my tree. I let him turn as far as he's going to, picking a spot that should catch the top of the close lung and center punch the other... he's walking, I give him the "maaaa" call with my mouth and the carbon arrow is leaving the bow just as he stops to look up.

I watch the arrow pass thru, guesstimated at about 14 yards, and slam into the ground. He bolts around my tree, turns sharp and heads into the slashing. I lose sight of him in the pines, then a flash of white. He's stopped at about 60 yards and his legs get loose... he stumbles forward about 5 more yards and piles up within sight. Both lungs and a the liver, seen from the tree, no tracking required. I thanked the Lord for the opportunity at such a great animal and I hope to do it again this year. Thanks for asking nodog.